Working as a cashier is an interesting career choice. There is something customers probably don't realize about us, however.We are human. We make mistakes sometimes. We see you at the end of a long line and do our best to get caught up. We aim to serve you, the customer and make you happy..
One time at check out however, a couple of different factors lead to the perfect storm resulting in some snide remarks from a customer. I smiled and apologized. That didn't mean the words didn't hurt.
There is a popular song out on K-Love 99.1 fm. It's called "Mean Girls."
"Stick and stones may break my bones But no one ever warned me about words
I smile and I pretend it doesn't hurt But the older that I get it just gets worse Lord, find me and remind me that my worth Is worth so much more than their words"
- Leanna Crawford
Words have a purpose. They can encourage, express love, confess sin,reassure a child; they can do so much good. We are called by God to choose our words carefully as they also are capable of great harm. "But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken." Matt 12:36
God's word is telling us for every empty word we will have to give an account, let alone every mean word!
Praise God that the blood of Jesus Christ removes our sin and mistakes. He of all people, knows a thing or two about words. You see He IS the Word! Jesus is God's expression of Himself to the world. Yet, He was beaten beyond recognition, and nailed to a cross through His wrist and feet. But that is only part of what Jesus experienced . While hoisting His bloody and battered, body up so that He could breathe (a human's natural will to live) He was fighting with His holy mission to suffer and die...for us. To top it all off, words, hurtful, challenging, shameful and tempting, were thrown at Him.
It says in Matt. 27:35-40 "And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head they put the charge against Him which read,, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, come down from the cross. "
They have a lot of nerve hurtfully tempting Jesus.! He could have called a league of angel armies to come save Him and wipe them all out. But how did He respond?
Silence.
God's word goes on to say, " In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and pharisees were mocking Him, saying "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel. Let Him now come down from the cross and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God' Let God rescue Him now if He delights in Him; for He said, I am the Son of God." Matt 27:41-43
So all the religious people got together and hurt Jesus again. I can't even imagine what that roused in His emotions. It affected Him alright , especially after the two robbers then began saying the same insults to Him. (Matt 27:44) I'd imagine Jesus was so full of pain that His mind began playing tricks on Him.
Think about the last time you experienced great physical pain, where was your mind at?
So when "at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? which is , MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
Jesus was at His worst physically, emotionally and spiritually, when as He paid the final price for our sin, God turned away from Him.
God is Holy and will not tolerate sin of any kind. Jesus, who was pure and blameless, took all our sin upon Himself. He did so, that we could be with God once again.
Of course we all know that God, by His Holy Spirit, raised Jesus from the dead, but that is another lesson. So next time an insult , accusation or "shade" is thrown your way, just know....Jesus Knows!